Plays, readings, performances, cinema, and discussions will mark the upcoming three-day festival themed on the life and ideology of Mahatma Gandhi. The event will open on Friday at the India International Centre (IIC) here. The festival named ‘Words In The Garden’ will host noted people from the fields of literature, arts, social sciences, and other public spheres. Curated by renowned Hindi poet Ashok Vajpeyi, the third extensive festival by the Sanatan Sangeet Sanskriti is themed ‘Bapu Ki Dilli’. It will kick off with the screening of the 1996 film by legendary director Shyam Benegal, “The Making of the Mahatma”, which explores Gandhi’s participation in South Africa’s fight for freedom.
“Stay Yet a While”, a play by M.K. Raina capturing thought-provoking dialogue between Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore will conclude festival’s day one. “Har Qatra Toofan”, a theatrical reading of poems, directed by Vinod Kumar that depicts Gandhi in the eyes of women, will also be featured. The Gandhi-Ambedkar Study Circle’s session will include interactive poem recitals, acts, and music.
According to the organizers, the festival will explore themes with contemporary relevance inspired by Bapu’s ideologies — ‘Significance of non-violence today’ and ‘Sustainable Living’. The three-day ‘Bapu Ki Dilli’ is open to one and all. Registration details can be found on the Facebook page of ‘Words in the Garden’.
